Associating information with a portion of media content

Abstract

A media fingerprint is derived from a portion of media content. Information is associated with the media content portion based on the derived media fingerprint. Upon linking to the associated information, the associated content is presented with the media content portion. The media fingerprint includes a unique representation of the media content portion that is derived from a characteristic component of the media content portion. The media content may comprise an original instance of content or a derivative instance of the original content.

1 . A method for searching for information that relates to media content, comprising:
 querying a repository for information;   wherein the query is made using at least one of a portion of the media content or a media fingerprint derived therefrom;   wherein the media fingerprint comprises a unique representation of the media content portion that is derived from a characteristic component of the media content portion;   returning a search result related to the media content portion; and   returning auxiliary information that is associated with the media content portion;   wherein the associated auxiliary information is presented with the search result.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in an exchange for returning the auxiliary information with the search result, receiving consideration in a remuneration.   
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 marketing the exchange.   
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 2  wherein the auxiliary associated information comprises a plurality of independent instances of auxiliary associated information content, the method further comprising:
 ranking the independent instances of auxiliary associated information within the plurality thereof; 
 wherein the returning auxiliary information step comprises selectively linking to one or more of the independent instances of returning auxiliary information content based on the ranking step; and 
 wherein the ranking step is based, at least in part, on a value associated with the remuneration. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 4  wherein the value associated with the remuneration relates to at least one of a financial or a monetary value corresponding to the remuneration. 
     
     
         6 . A system operable in a network for associating content-relatable information with media content, comprising:
 one or more information repositories communicatively coupled with the network;   wherein at least one of the information repositories stores the content-relatable information;   wherein at least one of the information repositories stores information for correlating a plurality of media content portions with a plurality of media fingerprints; and   wherein a client computer device, having one or more processors that are configured to derive a media fingerprint from a portion of the media content, is communicatively coupleable with the network;   a server communicatively coupled with the network and having one or more processors, which are configured to:
 associate the content-relatable information with the portion of media content based on the derived media fingerprint; and 
 link the client computer to the associated content-relatable information; 
   wherein the associated content is presented, at the client computer device with the portion of media content.